Pocketful of Memory Cards

I'm trying to decide whether or not to continue posting my photos on Blogger or not.  This weekend I spent some time culling over 400 photos I took on September 23rd.  The Fall Equinox is a day I try to set aside to indulge my little hobby.  I've lucked out with the weather the past few years and this past Wednesday was no exception.  I decided to post my photos on Flickr this year.  It seems a bit safer than Blogger and Facebook. If you have other information, let me know.  In the meantime, here's one photo, and you can click here to get to my album on Flickr.

I wanna breathe the salty days/ Oh I just need to get away/ to Santa Monica   - Drew Tabor The highlight of our trip to L.A. for me, was visiting Santa Monica.  The prettiest part of the city in my humble opinion, (though the drive down Sunset Boulevard was pretty impressive too).  I loved the art deco buildings, the colourful pier and the vast ocean views. Well it goes through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri.... Dory races South view Lunch at Ye Olde King's Head Pub .  Nicole has inherited her father's taste in beer.

The south end of the Mission Ridge Trail. Try as I might, I could not come up with a new Gratitude Monday title today - no theme or pun for this post. This morning I am just grateful for the many blessings in my life, particularly: the return of the sun.  It's been a frosty week but the sun came back this weekend and rumour has it temperatures will reach 19 C on Easter weekend! my friend and writing buddy Anne Louise who despite being so very busy has been able to get together two weeks running.  She's a wise woman with great advice on writing and life's little challenges. Max and Pitou who force me to get out of the house and into the fresh air every day. the variety of places in Kelowna to take the dogs for a hike or a run off leash.  Last week we walked out to Paul's Tomb,  tramped around Mission Creek Park off Springfield, hiked up to Mission Ridge a couple of times, went to Cedar Creek Dog Park and hubby took them to Mission Dog Park near the ...

It was such a gorgeous colourful morning at Cedar Creek Dog Park I just had to post for the second time today to share some photos.  I just figured out yesterday (duh!) that if you click on a photo it makes it much larger and it shows the rest of the photos along the bottom of the screen for you to click on and see at their best.  Loving all the richness of the blues this morning!

Our view this morning from the upper level of Cedar Creek Dog Park. A quick stop to enjoy the sunshine at Gyro Beach after picking up a few groceries.

This first Monday in February I'm feeling grateful for the things that keep my sometimes deluded optimism alive.  I always hope for the best but often I secretly expect the worst. I'm extremely grateful for John and Ellie, owners of  Mr. Sandless who refinished our hardwood floors last week.  They're about 15 years old (the floors, not John and Ellie) and though they were pretty good in most spots, a swath of grey, bare wood led you up the stairs and into the kitchen.  We never did get around to putting a rug under the dining room table so the chairs had scraped things up pretty good despite the felt pads under the legs.  After all the stress I've been through with contractors on this reno it was such a joy to have things turn out better than expected. I'm grateful the usual suspects were able to make it to our annual January Wine and Dine this year and we added two more couples.  We enjoyed a delicious three course meal for $25 at Chop . I'...

We've been blessed with sunshine for four of the last five days.  The local weather forecast is not looking as bright for the rest of this week so I thought I'd post some of the shots I took on Friday when Pitou and I stopped for some Vitamin D at Rotary Beach .  I'm very pleased with the quality of the photos on my new 4S iPhone.

This is what I saw this morning from my side deck. Out in minus 5 degrees in my jammies, I felt the cold prickle my skin; damp and frosty, as though invisible snowflakes hung in the air.  I was certain it would snow before the day was out.  Then, less than an hour later the sun came over the eastern hills creating that stunning contrast of dark and light that I so enjoy. Another hour later I was ready to take the dogs up to Mission Ridge and the clouds had pressed in again.  I donned my fleece jacket, wool gloves and a hat. By the time we reached the top of the ridge, my gloves were tucked into my pocket and I was considering wrapping the fleece around my waist. I'm very grateful for the simple things today, the first of which is gratitude for being wrong about the weather! I'm also grateful for: My sister and her family's visit this past weekend. My wise and witty seven year old niece who practices gratitude easily.  When the adults were di...

Thunderclouds roll in over us at Cedar Creek Beach this morning. Though it threatened most of the day, now at 5:20, the sun is shining and the dogs are sunbathing on the back deck.

Today I'm saying thank you for: the chance to enjoy the sunshine for the past two days, after a week of rain. the fact that we have no flooding or water damage in our neighbourhood. the new endocrinologist at the hospital.  I really like and trust him. the loss of a few pounds.  Hopefully no one else finds them. the fact that our daughter joins us for dinner Sunday nights and we talk daily. the opportunity to capture the shot along Benvoulin Road that has eluded me for the past two weeks.

In almost 50 years of living I've only spent 4 of them in a city that wasn't on a lake. That realization makes me feel very lucky.  Though we all know you can't survive very long without water to drink, I believe water is also essential to our psychological and spiritual well being. When we go on vacation, or dream about our ideal get away, how often  is water a part of the picture?  And speaking of pictures, when  we are told to "go to our happy place" how many of us picture a scenario with a calm pool of water, softly lapping waves, or a gentle trickling stream.   I thought I'd share some of the photos I took on the Victoria Day weekend at Whitby's Heydenshore Park.  It really gave me a thrill to see so many people doing so many different things, down by the water.